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A review by kikiandarrowsfishshelf
Once on a Moonless Night by Dai Sijie
4.0
I'm not sure quite how I feel about this book.
It's beautiful, but there doesn't seem to be much plot. This is strange because usually a lack of plot will drive me up a wall. It makes me want to fling the book across the room and consider revoking my "don't burn books" rule. Worse, the narrator is a woman, but I consistently forgot that. (Oh that's right, she has a womb because she is a she). That usually clinches the deal.
But not this one. Not this time.
Okay, there is something of a plot, a search for an ancient scroll. But it isn't an Indiana Jones type of a search; in fact, it is a very round about search.
And yet.
There is such restrained passion in the language of this novel. It is rich. I can see why [a:A.S. Byatt|1169504|A.S. Byatt|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1221410963p2/1169504.jpg] enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed this novel.
There is something transportative (is that even a word) about the language of this novel. The story is so simple, the ending is so simple, and yet magical.
It's beautiful, but there doesn't seem to be much plot. This is strange because usually a lack of plot will drive me up a wall. It makes me want to fling the book across the room and consider revoking my "don't burn books" rule. Worse, the narrator is a woman, but I consistently forgot that. (Oh that's right, she has a womb because she is a she). That usually clinches the deal.
But not this one. Not this time.
Okay, there is something of a plot, a search for an ancient scroll. But it isn't an Indiana Jones type of a search; in fact, it is a very round about search.
And yet.
There is such restrained passion in the language of this novel. It is rich. I can see why [a:A.S. Byatt|1169504|A.S. Byatt|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1221410963p2/1169504.jpg] enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed this novel.
There is something transportative (is that even a word) about the language of this novel. The story is so simple, the ending is so simple, and yet magical.